Donald Glover, a multi-talented 28-year-old American who made his name as a comedy writer and actor. His rap career is now taking off and, following in Kanye West’s footsteps, he’s challenging hip-hop stereotypes with a preppy image and razor-sharp anti-gangsta lyrics.

How did he get here?

Glover was raised in Stone Mountain, a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. While studying at New York University, he was an MC and DJ, but after graduating in 2006 he became a writer and occasional actor on Tina Fey’s TV series 30 Rock, before starring in the college-based comedy Community. As his acting career flourished, Glover somehow found time to release four albums, an EP and a trio of mixtapes, all given away free on his website. His major label debut, Camp, was released last year to critical acclaim.

What does he sound like?

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His early indie sounds have progressed into party music, with upbeat rap-pop and giddy choruses underpinned by gospel piano. He sings, too, though his chief gift is wordplay. Glover’s geek-turned-ladies-man stories are hilarious and his criticisms of modern black culture penetrating.

What people say about him...

His mentor, Questlove from the Roots, who plays the drums on Camp, called Glover “a great amongst us” , adding “I have high expectations for his contributions to pop culture.”

What he says about himself...

Glover got into comedy and rap for “that amazing feeling when someone says something that makes you go, 'Wow, I feel uncomfortable!’ ”

What’s next?

New single Firefly comes out on Aug 6, and his most recent mixtape, Royalty, can be downloaded free from http://iamdonald.com/ childishgambino. He performs at V Festival later this month.